Safe: Commission gives the go-ahead to Italia’s 8 billion plan; final decision to be taken by the EU Council

The European Commission has given its approval to the updated plan for the use of the SAFE programme, worth over 8 billion euros. The EU Council must now give its final approval to the decision. SAFE (Security Action for Europe) is the instrument providing subsidised loans for defence and joint military procurement.

“I can confirm that the Commission has approved the updated Italian Safe plan, worth just over 8 billion euros. This is a very important step both for us and for Italia, given the role that the Italian defence industry plays in Europe and for Europe,” explained a spokesperson for the European Commission during the daily press briefing. “As for the next steps,” he added, “the Council must approve our updated version of the SAFE plan – the Italian version of the plan – and we will then proceed to sign the loan agreement, so that we can disburse an initial tranche of 15 per cent to the Italian government.”

The fund is therefore a European Union financial instrument, designed to strengthen the security and defence of Member States. The acronym stands for Security Action for Europe. It was established in 2025, against the backdrop of growing European security needs and the war in Ukraine. It provides up to 150 billion euros in the form of loans to Member States to finance investment in the defence sector.

The Council of the EU has approved SAFE funding for 18 Member States in 2026; the funds are being disbursed in accordance with the relevant agreements and conditions.